Linear cutting and stapling device with selectively disengageable cutting member

A surgical stapling instrument including a selectively actuatable cutting member. The stapling instrument may be used as a surgical stapler without cutting tissue or, if desired, the surgeon may selectively actuate the cutting member to cut tissue as the staples are being deployed and formed. A stapling instrument can include an actuator knob that has at least one pusher bar attached thereto. Advancement of the actuator knob in a distal direction causes the pusher bars to apply a firing motion to the staples contained within a staple cartridge supported within the stapling instrument. A knife bar may be selectively coupleable to the actuator knob by a selector switch that is movable from an actuated position wherein movement of the actuator knob in the distal direction advances the knife bar which has a cutting blade portion to advance between rows of staples in the staple cartridge to an unactuated position wherein movement of the actuator knob advances the pusher bars without advancing the knife bar.

Skip to: Description  ·  Claims  ·  References Cited  · Patent History  ·  Patent History
Description
BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to stapling instruments and, in various embodiments, to a surgical cutting and stapling instrument for producing one or more rows of staples.

2. Background of the Related Art

In recent years, there has been an increasing tendency for surgeons to use stapling instruments to suture body tissues such as a lung, an esophagus, a stomach, a duodenum and/or other organs in the intestinal tract. The use of an appropriate stapling instrument in many instances may perform a better job in less time and simplify previously difficult surgical procedures such as gastrointestinal anastomoses. Previous linear two and four row cutting staplers comprised cartridge-less instruments into which staples were individually hand-loaded. Other previous devices have included a presterilized disposable staple loading unit and a cutting member which could be utilized for dividing the tissue and forming the rows of staples simultaneously. An example of such a surgical stapler is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,499,591, entitled INSTRUMENT FOR PLACING LATERAL GASTROINTESTINAL ANASTOMOSES, which issued on Mar. 10, 1970, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

A stapling instrument can include a pair of cooperating elongate jaw members, wherein each jaw member can be adapted to be inserted into an internal, tubular body organ to be anastomosed. In various embodiments, one of the jaw members can support a staple cartridge with at least two laterally spaced rows of staples, and the other jaw member can support an anvil with staple-forming pockets aligned with the rows of staples in the staple cartridge. Generally, the stapling instrument can further include a pusher bar and knife blade assembly which is slidable relative to the jaw members to sequentially eject staples from the staple cartridge via camming surfaces on the pusher bar. In at least one embodiment, the camming surfaces can be configured to activate a plurality of staple drivers carried by the cartridge and associated with the individual staples to push the staples against the anvil and form laterally spaced rows of deformed staples in the tissue gripped between the jaw members. In typical stapling instruments, however, the anvil is unmovable relative to the staple cartridge once the jaw members have been assembled together and the formed height of the staples cannot be adjusted. In at least one embodiment, the knife blade can trail the pusher bar and cut the tissue along a line between the staple rows. However, the knife blade and pusher bar generally comprise an assembly such that both the pusher bar(s) and knife blade are simultaneously actuated. Examples of such stapling instruments are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,695, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, which issued on Feb. 7, 1984, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. Other examples of linear staples and staple cartridges are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/725,993, filed, Mar. 17, 2010, entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGE, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

During some surgical procedures, it is not necessary to cut tissue during the stapling process. In many existing linear stapling devices, the staple are fired as the cutting member is driven through the tissue. Accordingly, a need exists for a linear cutting and stapling device that has a selectively disengageable cutting member so that the surgeon may use the device to install staples without cutting tissue, yet have the ability to cut tissue should the need arise.

The foregoing discussion is intended only to illustrate some of the shortcomings present in the field of the invention at the time, and should not be taken as a disavowal of claim scope.

SUMMARY

In at least one form of the present invention, a surgical instrument is provided. In various embodiments, the surgical instrument includes a first jaw member that is configured to operably support a staple cartridge that has a plurality of staples supported therein. A second jaw member is removably couplable to the first jaw member to enable tissue to be clamped therebetween. At least one pusher bar assembly is operably supported relative to the first jaw member and is configured to selectively apply a firing motion to the staples supported in the staple cartridge as the at least one pusher bar assembly is distally advanced through the staple cartridge. A knife bar, configured to cut tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members, is operably supported relative to the first jaw member and the at least one pusher bar assembly. A selector switch operably interfaces with the knife bar and is movable between an activated position wherein an application of an activation motion to the at least one pusher bar assembly causes the knife bar and the at least one pusher bar assembly to simultaneously move in a distal direction within the first jaw member and a deactivated position whereupon application of the activation motion to the at least one pusher bar assembly causes the at least one pusher bar assembly to move in the distal direction without moving the knife bar in the distal direction.

In accordance with other general aspects of the present invention, there is provided a surgical staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling instrument that has an end effector with first and second jaw members for clamping tissue therebetween. The surgical stapling instrument also has a knife bar assembly for generating a cutting motion and a pusher bar arrangement for generating a staple firing motion that is independent from the cutting motion. Various embodiments of the staple cartridge comprise a cartridge body that is configured to be removably supported in the end effector. The cartridge body operably supports a plurality of staples that are oriented in plural longitudinally extending rows and are configured to be ejected therefrom upon application of the staple firing motion thereto. A cutting blade is operably supported in the cartridge body and is selectively movable from an unactuated position at a first end of the cartridge body to an actuated position at a second end of the cartridge body upon application of the cutting motion thereto. The cutting blade is configured to selectively remain in the unactuated position during the application of the firing motion to all of the staples and move from the unactuated position to the actuated position upon application of the cutting motion thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a stapling instrument of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing the stapling instrument of FIG. 1 partially disassembled with the upper anvil carrying jaw member detached from the lower staple cartridge carrying jaw member;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing the stapling instrument of FIG. 1 in an assembled configuration;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the stapling instrument of FIG. 1 taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1 showing a cam mechanism for urging the rear portions of the upper and lower jaw members apart;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the anvil carrying jaw member of the stapling instrument of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the staple cartridge carrying jaw member of the stapling instrument of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the stapling instrument of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a front end view of the stapling instrument of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a rear end view of the stapling instrument of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a pusher bar and knife blade assembly of the stapling instrument of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a pusher block and an actuator knob which are components of the pusher bar and knife blade assembly of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of a pusher block with the knife selector switch in a deactivated position;

FIG. 13 is another partial cross-sectional view of the portion of pusher block of FIG. 12 with the knife selector switch in an activated position;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the pusher block and knife bar of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional view of the rear portion of the stapling instrument of FIG. 1 illustrating the cam mechanism in its inoperative position;

FIG. 16 is a partial cross-sectional view of the rear portion of the stapling instrument of FIG. 1 illustrating the cam mechanism in its operative position;

FIG. 17 is a side view of the staple cartridge of the stapling instrument of FIG. 1;

FIG. 18 is a top view of a staple cartridge embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a bottom view of the staple cartridge of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a partial cross-sectional view of the anvil and staple cartridge carrying jaw members of FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrating the operation of the pusher bar and knife blade assembly of FIG. 10;

FIG. 21 is a side elevational view of another staple cartridge embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a top view of the staple cartridge embodiment of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a side elevational view of another staple cartridge embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a partial perspective view of a cutting blade and knife bar arrangement of an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 25 is a partial perspective view of a cutting blade and knife bar arrangement of another embodiment of the present invention.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain exemplary embodiments will now be described to provide an overall understanding of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture, and use of the devices and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments and that the scope of the various embodiments of the present invention is defined solely by the claims. The features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with the features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Reference throughout the specification to “various embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “one embodiment,” or “an embodiment”, or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in various embodiments,” “in some embodiments,” “in one embodiment”, or “in an embodiment”, or the like, in places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Thus, the particular features, structures, or characteristics illustrated or described in connection with one embodiment may be combined, in whole or in part, with the features structures, or characteristics of one or more other embodiments without limitation. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

The terms “proximal” and “distal” are used herein with reference to a clinician manipulating the handle portion of the surgical instrument. The term “proximal” referring to the portion closest to the clinician and the term “distal” referring to the portion located away from the clinician. It will be further appreciated that, for convenience and clarity, spatial terms such as “vertical”, “horizontal”, “up”, and “down” may be used herein with respect to the drawings. However, surgical instruments are used in many orientations and positions, and these terms are not intended to be limiting and/or absolute.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in connection with various embodiments of the present invention, the linear stapling instrument, generally 20, comprises an upper elongated anvil carrying jaw member 22 and a lower elongated staple cartridge carrying jaw member 24. Exemplary stapling instruments of this type are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2009/0200355 A1, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT WITH IMPROVED FIRING TRIGGER ARRANGEMENT, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper anvil carrying jaw member 22 is supported by a handle 26 with a front portion of the jaw member 22 extending forwardly therefrom. Lower staple cartridge carrying jaw member 24 is supported by a handle 28 with a front portion of the jaw member 24 extending forwardly therefrom. As shown in FIG. 3, upper handle 26 and lower handle 28 are suitably shaped to form a hand grip to facilitate the handling and operation of the stapling instrument by a surgeon. An enlarged front protrusion 27 and a small rear protrusion 29 are provided on each handle for this purpose. In various embodiments, handles 26 and 28 can be made of plastic of other lightweight materials, for example, while jaw members 22 and 24 can be made of stainless steel or other similar materials, for example.

As shown in FIG. 5, in various embodiments, the “second” or upper jaw member 22 comprises a one-piece elongated channel-shaped frame including a pair of opposed, elongated side walls 30 connected by a top wall 31. Upper handle 26 includes a pair of depending ears 32 located inside the upper handle adjacent to its front end. Upper jaw member 22 includes a slot 34 (FIG. 4) formed at an intermediate position along its top wall 31 through which depending ears 32 can project downwardly. A latch pin 36 extends through holes formed in side walls 30 of upper jaw member 22 and through holes formed in depending ears 32 to pivotally connect the upper jaw member to upper handle 26.

Referring to FIG. 5, in various embodiments, the front portion of upper jaw member 22 has a pair of elongated inwardly extending flanges 38 which defines an anvil 40 of the stapling instrument. Flanges 38 are separated by a central longitudinal slot 42 which extends along the entire length of anvil 40. At the proximal end of central slot 42, the flanges 38 are provided with inwardly sloped guide surfaces 41. In various embodiments, each flange 38 has two longitudinal rows of uniformly spaced staple-forming pockets 44. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a tapered anvil tip 46 is mounted at the front of anvil carrying jaw member 22 to facilitate the insertion of the jaw member into hollow, tubular body organs, for example. Anvil tip 46 includes an elongated body 48 (FIG. 4) which can be inserted through the longitudinal passageway above anvil 40 defined by side walls 30 and flanges 38 of the upper jaw member. This elongated body 48 can extend between depending ears 32 above latch pin 36 and can include an enlarged rear portion 50 located behind ears 32 to hold anvil tip 46 in place on upper jaw member 22.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, in various embodiments, the “first” or lower cartridge carrying jaw member 24 comprises a one-piece elongated channel-shaped frame including a pair of opposed, elongated side walls 52 connected by a bottom wall 53. Along the rearward portion of lower jaw member 24, a pair of spaced, elongated upstanding side flanges 54 (FIG. 2) can extend upward from its opposed side walls 52. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in at least one embodiment, the width of lower jaw member 24 between its side flanges 54 is greater than the width of upper jaw member 22 between its side walls 30 to permit the rear portion of the upper jaw member to be received between side flanges 54 of the lower jaw member when the stapling instrument is assembled for operation. As shown in FIG. 2, each side flange 54 of lower jaw member 24 includes a vertical notch 56 located in alignment with latch pin 36 on upper jaw member 22. When upper jaw member 22 and lower jaw member 24 are assembled, the opposite ends of latch pin 36 can be received in notches 56.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the lower jaw member 24 is configured to support a staple cartridge 60 which is adapted to receive a plurality of surgical staples 61 (FIG. 20) arranged in at least two laterally spaced longitudinal rows. Staple cartridge 60 can be mounted at the front portion of lower jaw member 24 between its side walls 52. Staple cartridge 60 is divided longitudinally by a central, elongated slot 62 (FIG. 6) which extends from a first or proximal end 67 of the cartridge toward its second or distal end 69. In various embodiments, a plurality of staple openings 64 formed in staple cartridge 60 can be arranged in two pairs of laterally spaced rows, with each pair of rows disposed on opposite sides of central longitudinal slot 62. A plurality of surgical staples 61 (FIG. 20) are mounted within openings 64 of cartridge 60. As shown in FIG. 6, the staple openings 64 in adjacent rows are staggered to provide more effective stapling of the tissue when the instrument is operated. Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, staple cartridge 60 can include a pair of longitudinal slots 66 located on opposite sides of elongated central slot 62 and disposed between the staggered rows of openings 64 on each side of the central slot. Each longitudinal slot 66 can extend from the proximal end 67 of cartridge 60 towards its distal end 69.

As shown in FIG. 20, in various embodiments, a plurality of staple drivers 65 are slidably mounted in staple openings 64 for actuating the staples 61 which are loaded into staple cartridge 60. Referring to FIG. 6, each staple driver 65 can be designed to simultaneously actuate two staples 61 located in the adjacent rows provided in staple cartridge 60. Thus, in various embodiments, a first set of staple drivers 65 is provided for actuating the staples 61 in the staggered rows located on one side of central longitudinal slot 62, and a second set of staple drivers 65 can be provided for actuating the staples 61 in the pair of adjacent rows located on the other side of central longitudinal slot 62.

Referring to FIG. 2, various embodiments of a stapling instrument 20 includes a latching mechanism, generally 90, for latching upper jaw member 22 and lower jaw member 24 together at an intermediate position along the jaw members. In various embodiments, jaw members 22 and 24 can be latched together at a position adjacent to the proximal ends of anvil 40 and staple cartridge 60. In at least one embodiment, latching mechanism 90 comprises a latch arm 92 (FIG. 2) that is pivotally connected to lower jaw member 24 via pivot pin 80 (FIG. 4). Latch arm 92 can be channel-shaped in configuration and can include a pair of opposed, elongated side walls 94 (FIG. 6) which are spaced apart by a distance sufficient to span side walls 52 of lower jaw member 24. Each side wall 94 of latch arm 92 includes an upwardly and forwardly extending hook member 96 provided with a forwardly facing slot 98 for receiving latch pin 36. A shroud 100 is mounted on the lower surface of latch arm 92. When latch arm 92 is closed, as shown in FIG. 3, shroud 100 can be aligned with the bottom of lower handle 28 to facilitate the handling and operation of stapling instrument 20 by the surgeon. In various embodiments, shroud 100 can be made of plastic or other lightweight materials, for example, while latch arm 92 can be made of stainless steel, for example. As shown in FIG. 7, shroud 100 can include elongated flanges 102 and 104 extending outwardly from its opposite sides which can serve as fingergrips to enable latch arm 92 to be pivoted downwardly from its latched to its unlatched position. When latch arm 92 is moved to its closed or latched position, the surfaces of slots 98 of hook members 96 cooperate with latch pin 36 which can act as an over-center latch to maintain latch arm 92 in its latched position.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 10, various embodiments of stapling instrument 20 include an improved pusher bar and a selectively engageable knife bar assembly, generally 110, which can be slidably mounted for longitudinal movement relative to upper and lower jaw members 22 and 24, respectively, for driving or “firing” staples 61 from staple cartridge 60 into tissue gripped between the jaw members. As the staples are fired, they are driven through the tissue clamped between the jam members and into the anvil 40. If desired, the surgeon may also cut the tissue along a line between the rows of staples formed in the tissue. In various embodiments, pusher bar and knife blade assembly 110 includes a pusher block 112 (FIG. 6) which can be slidably received within the lower channel-shaped jaw member 24 between its upstanding side flanges 54. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, pusher block 112 has an actuator knob 114 that includes a flange portion 116 that is attached to the pusher block 112 by, for example, adhesive, welding, snap features, flanges, etc. Flange 116 of actuator knob 114 can extend through and rides along an elongated slot 122 (FIG. 2) formed in one side flange 54 of lower jaw member 24.

Also in various embodiments, the pusher bar and knife blade assembly 110 includes a pair of staple pusher bars 124 (FIG. 10) projecting forwardly from pusher block 112 and slidably received in elongated slots 66 (FIG. 19) of staple cartridge 60. In certain embodiments, pusher block 112 has a pair of vertical slots 126 (FIG. 11) in which pusher bars 124 are secured. In the illustrated embodiments, for example, two pusher bars 124 are employed. Such arrangement serves to facilitate the actuation of multiple rows of staples as will be discussed in further detail below. However, other embodiments are contemplated that employ at least one pusher bar and more than two pusher bars. As shown in FIG. 10, the front end of each staple pusher bar 124 has a wedge-shaped tip 128 which defines an inclined cam surface 130 for engaging staple drivers 65 as pusher bars 124 are advanced into staple cartridge 60. As shown in FIG. 20, each staple driver 65 is provided with a sloped surface 132 oriented at the same angle as cam surface 130 of each staple pusher bar 124 to provide a flat, sliding contact between the surfaces. As the pusher bars 124 are moved distally through the staple cartridge, they contact the staple drivers 65 to apply a “firing motion” thereto which causes the drivers to move the staples into forming contact with the anvil 40.

As can be seen in FIGS. 10-14, various embodiments of the selectively engageable knife blade assembly 110 includes a slidable knife selector switch 300. In certain embodiments, the pusher block 112 has a longitudinal slot 302 that is sized to slidably receive the knife support bar 136. The knife selector switch 300 includes a selector bar 304 that is laterally slidable in a transverse slot 310 in the pusher block 112 and is configured to retainingly engage and disengage a proximal end portion 320 of the knife support bar 136. See FIGS. 10 and 11. In various embodiments, the selector bar 304 has a slot 330 therein that can slidably receive the proximal end portion 320 of the knife support bar 136 which has a hook-like formation 322 thereon. See FIGS. 12 and 13. Thus, when the selector bar 304 is transversely slid to the deactivated position shown in FIG. 12, the slot 330 in selector bar 304 is aligned to enable the pusher block 112 to slide relative to the knife bar 136. As such, when the selector bar 304 is in the deactivated position, the surgeon may slide the pusher block 112 in a distal direction “DD” to distally advance the pusher bars 124 without advancing the knife bar 136. When the surgeon desires to cut tissue, the selector bar 304 is transversely slid into the activated position depicted in FIG. 13. When in that position, the hook-like formation 322 engages the selector bar 304 such that movement of the pusher bar 112 in the distal direction “DD” causes the knife bar 136 to be advanced in the distal direction with the pusher bars 124. Likewise, when the surgeon moves the pusher bar 112 in the proximal direction “PD”, the knife bar 136 also moves in the proximal direction to be retracted out of the staple cartridge 60.

In certain embodiments, as can be seen in FIGS. 4, 10, and 20, an inclined knife blade 138 that has a beveled cutting edge 140 is formed or otherwise attached to the distal end 137 of the knife bar 136. The beveled cutting edge 140 of knife blade 138 can be oriented at an angle relative to elongate jaw members 22 and 24 and can be slidably received in central longitudinal slot 62 of staple cartridge 60. In other embodiments, a separate knife blade 438 may be provided in the staple cartridge 60′. See FIGS. 21 and 22. In such embodiments, for example, the staple cartridge 60′ may be substantially identical to staple cartridge 60 described above, except that staple cartridge 60′ includes a longitudinally movable knife blade 438 therein. In such embodiments, the staple cartridge 60′ may have a shroud 440 formed thereon or attached thereto as shown in FIG. 23 to protect the cutting edge of the knife blade 438 prior to use. The knife blade 438 is slidably oriented with the central elongated slot 62 (FIG. 22) and is adapted to be driven in the distal direction DD when contacted by a distal end of the knife bar 136′. See FIG. 24. When using such embodiments, once the knife blade 438 has been distally advanced to the distal end of the central elongated slot 62, the knife blade 438 will remain in that position when the surgeon retracts the pusher block 122 and the knife bar 136′ as well as the pusher bars 124. Thus, the surgeon may discard the spent cartridge 60′ and use a new cartridge that has a fresh knife blade 438′, that may or may not ultimately be used. In alternative embodiments, the knife blade 438 may be provided with a hook feature 450 that is adapted to engage a hook feature 462 on a distal end 460 of the knife bar 136″. See FIG. 25.

In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, stapling instrument 20 can be provided with jaw clamping means for applying clamping forces to the jaw members to urge staple cartridge 60 and anvil 40 together during the formation of staples 61. The jaw clamping means can include means for urging the jaw members apart at a position remote from the latching mechanism to resist the forces exerted on staple cartridge 60 and anvil 40 when staples 61 are formed. In at least one embodiment, a cam means can be mounted on one of the jaw members and can be engageable with the other jaw member for moving said jaw members apart at the remote position to urge staple cartridge 60 and anvil 40 together. In various embodiments, a cam member can be pivotally mounted on one of the jaw members at a position remote from the latching mechanism. The cam member can be pivotable from a first inoperative position to a second operative position to move the remote ends of the jaw members apart. The cam member can be operable by pusher block 112 of pusher bar and knife blade assembly 110 to move to its operative position when the pusher block is advanced and to return to its inoperative position when the pusher block is retracted.

In various embodiments, a cam mechanism, generally 150, can be located adjacent to the rear end of lower jaw member 24, as shown in FIG. 4. Cam mechanism 150 can include a cam member 152 pivotally mounted on a transverse pivot pin 154 extending between upstanding side flanges 54 of lower jaw member 24. Cam member 152 can include a first lower cam surface 156 for engaging top wall 31 of upper jaw member 22 with cam 152 in its first inoperative position (FIG. 15) and a second higher cam surface 158 for engaging the top wall 31 of upper jaw member 22 with cam 152 disposed in its second operative position (FIG. 16). First cam surface 156 can be arranged to maintain upper and lower jaw members substantially parallel with cam 152 in its inoperative position. Second cam surface 158 can be arranged to raise the rear end of upper jaw member 22 by approximately 0.125 inch (3.2 mm), for example, when cam 152 pivots from its inoperative position to its operative position. In addition, upper jaw member 22 can be sufficiently flexible to permit the rear portion of upper jaw member 22 to bend upward away from lower jaw member 24 when cam member 152 is moved from its inoperative position to its operative position.

As shown in FIG. 4, cam member 152 can include a radially extending notch 160 which divides the cam into a large front finger 162 and a small rear finger 164. Front cam finger 162 can include a flat, rearwardly facing surface 165, and rear cam finger 164 can include a sloped, forwardly facing surface 166. With cam 152 in its inoperative position, front cam finger 162 and rear cam finger 164 can extend downwardly through an elongated slot 168 formed in bottom wall 53 of lower jaw member 24.

In various embodiments, cam member 152 can be operable by pusher block 112 to move from its inoperative position to its operative position when the pusher block is advanced. As shown in FIG. 11, pusher block 112 has a cam actuator pin 174 protruding therefrom. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 11, with cam member 152 disposed in its inoperative position, cam actuator pin 174 is received in notch 160 between front finger 162 and rear finger 164 of the cam member.

As shown in FIG. 15, with cam member 152 disposed in its first inoperative position, top wall 31 of upper jaw member 22 can rest on first cam surface 156 of the cam member. With cam member 152 in its inoperative position, top wall 31 of upper jaw member 22 can be substantially parallel to bottom wall 53 of lower jaw member 24. In addition, pusher block 112 can be located in its start position. When pusher block 112 is advanced, as indicated by arrow 182 (FIG. 13), cam actuator pin 174 can engage rear surface 165 of front cam finger 162 to rotate cam member 152 in a counter-clockwise direction, as indicated by arrow 184, to pivot the cam member to its second operative position and move its second cam surface 158 into engagement with top wall 31 of upper jaw member 22. With cam member 152 pivoted to its operative position, the top wall 31 of upper jaw member 22 can be bent upwardly, as indicated by arrow 186, away from bottom wall 53 of lower jaw member 24. The cam member can apply forces to upper jaw member 22 and lower jaw member 24 which bend the rear portions of the jaw members apart. As a result of the bending the rear portions of upper jaw member 22 and lower jaw member 24 apart, additional clamping forces can be applied to the front portions of upper jaw member 22 and lower jaw member 24 to clamp anvil 40 and staple cartridge 60 against the tissue gripped between the jaw members. Thus, anvil 40 and staple cartridge 60 can be urged together to resist the forces exerted on the anvil and staple cartridge when pusher bar and knife blade assembly 110 is advanced to form staples 61 and cut the tissue.

Referring to FIG. 16, when pusher block 112 is retracted after staples 61 are formed, cam actuator pin 174 can engage sloped surface 166 of rear cam finger 164 to pivot cam member 152 in a clockwise direction. As cam actuator pin 174 moves along sloped surface 166 into notch 160, cam member 152 can pivot in a clockwise direction and return to its first inoperative position (FIG. 15) with its first cam surface 156 in engagement with top wall 31 of upper jaw member 22. As a result, the forces exerted on the rear portions of upper jaw member 22 and lower jaw member 24 by cam 152 can be released and top wall 31 of upper jaw member 22 can return to a substantially parallel relationship with bottom wall 53 of lower jaw member 24. Similarly, the clamping forces applied to the front portions of jaw members 22 and 24 can be released to unclamp anvil 40 and staple cartridge 60.

In various embodiments, stapling instrument 20 can include spacer means mounted on one of the jaw members for maintaining a predetermined gap between staple cartridge 60 and anvil 40 of the stapling instrument. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, this spacer means can be embodied as a spacer pin 190 mounted adjacent to the distal end of staple cartridge 60. Spacer pin 190 can extend vertically upward from bottom wall 53 of lower jaw member 24 through staple cartridge 60 and project upwardly from the top of the staple cartridge by a predetermined distance. As shown in FIG. 5, one flange 38 of anvil 40 can include a flange section 192 adjacent to its distal end for engaging spacer pin 190. With the stapling instrument assembled for operation (FIG. 4), spacer pin 190 can engage flange section 192 to maintain a predetermined gap between anvil 40 and staple cartridge 60.

In the operation of stapling instrument 20, the so-called “target tissue” is initially placed between jaw members 22 and 24 and clamped by the jaw members. Thus, handles 26 and 28 can be unlatched by pivotal movement of latch arm 92 downward to its unlatched position (FIG. 2). As a result, the opposite ends of latch pin 36 can be disengaged from slots 98 formed in hook members 96 of latching arm 92. Thereafter, upper and lower jaw members 22 and 24 can be separated by disengaging latch pin 36 from slots 56 formed in side flanges 54 of the lower jaw member.

Next, the target tissue is placed on jaw members 22 and 24. For example, as shown in FIG. 20, a piece of tubular, intestinal tissue may be slipped onto the front portion of each jaw member. After the tissue is placed on the jaw member, stapling instrument 20 can be reassembled. The reassembly can be accomplished by aligning latch pin 36 with vertical slots 56 formed in upstanding side flanges 54 of lower jaw member 24. Thereafter, side flanges 54 of lower jaw member 24 can be positioned inside upper handle 26, spanning side walls 30 of upper jaw member 22, while the opposite ends of latch pin 36 can be inserted into vertical slots 56. Finally, latch arm 92 can be pivoted upward to its latched position (FIG. 3) with its cover 100 flush with the bottom of lower handle 28. As a result, hook members 92 can be pivoted over latch pin 36 and slots 98 can receive the opposite ends of the latch pin. Thus, upper jaw member 22 and lower jaw member 24 can be latched together at an intermediate position therealong adjacent to anvil 40 and staple cartridge 60. In addition, spacer pin 190 can engage flange section 192 of anvil 40 through the body tissue to maintain a predetermined gap between anvil 40 and staple cartridge 60.

After the tissue is clamped between the jaw members, the surgeon may then determine whether he or she wishes to cut and staple the tissue or whether it is desirable to staple the tissue without cutting through it. If the surgeon desires to cut the tissue, the selector bar 304 is transversely moved to the activated position (FIG. 13). The stapling instrument 20 can then be fired by advancing actuator knob 114 to actuate the pusher bar and knife blade assembly 110. Referring to FIG. 20, during the initial advance of pusher block 112, pusher bars 124 slide distally and the wedge-shaped tips 128 of the pusher bars begin to advance through slots 66 of staple cartridge 60. As the pusher block 112 advances in the distal direction “DD”, its cam actuator pin 174 engages rear surface 165 of front cam finger 162 to pivot cam 152 counter-clockwise, as indicated by arrow 184 of FIG. 16, to move the second cam surface 158 of the cam member into engagement with top wall 31 of upper jaw member 22. Cam member 152 applies forces to upper jaw member 22 and lower jaw member 24 which bend the rear portions of the jaw members apart. As a result, the rear end of top wall 31 of upper jaw member 22 can be bent upward by approximately 0.125 inch (3.2 mm), for example, relative to the rear end of bottom wall 53 of lower jaw member 24. The bending of the rear ends of jaw members 22 and 24 apart can result in additional clamping forces on the front portions of the jaw members to clamp anvil 40 and staple cartridge 60 against the tissue gripped between the jaw members. These additional clamping forces tend to resist the forces exerted on anvil 40 and staple cartridge 60, while the tissue is cut and staples 61 are formed against anvil 40, to maintain the desired spacing between anvil 40 and staple cartridge 60 to produce formed staples 61 which are substantially uniform in height.

As pusher block 112 is advanced, staple pusher bars 124 can be moved longitudinally along slots 66 provided in staple cartridge 60. The two wedge-like cam surfaces 130 of staple pusher bars 124 can move through slots 66 into engagement with the sloped surfaces of staple drivers 65 to sequentially drive staples 61 from cartridge 60 and to form staples 61 into B-shaped configuration against anvil flanges 38. The cam surfaces 130 can be located at the same distance from pusher block 112 to simultaneously actuate staple drivers 65 located on opposite sides of central longitudinal slot 62. At the same time, the knife blade 138 is advanced through central longitudinal slot 42 of anvil 40 and through central longitudinal slot 62 of staple cartridge 60 to cut the tissue gripped between the jaw members. The additional clamping forces applied to the front portions of upper jaw member 22 and lower jaw member 24 via cam mechanism 150 can tend to resist the forces exerted on anvil 40 and staple cartridge 60 when staples 61 are formed.

After pusher block 112 is fully advanced to form all of the staples in cartridge 60, the pusher block 112 can be retracted toward its start position by retraction of actuator knob 114. As a result, staple pusher bars 124 and knife blade 138 are simultaneously retracted from staple cartridge 60 and anvil 40.

As pusher block 112 returns toward its start position, cam actuator pin 174 can engage sloped surface 166 of rear cam finger 164 to pivot cam member 152 in a clockwise direction toward its inoperative position. Cam actuator pin 174 can move along sloped surface 166 into slot 160 between cam fingers 162 and 164 to return cam member 152 to its inoperative position. As a result, second cam surface 158 of cam member 152 can be disengaged from the top wall of upper jaw member 22 and rear end of top wall 31 of upper jaw member 22 and move downwardly into engagement with first cam surface 156. At the same time, front cam finger 162 can pivot downwardly. Thereafter, with cam member 152 in its inoperative position, latching arm 92 can be pivoted downward, as shown in FIG. 2, to permit upper jaw member 22 and lower jaw member 24 to be disassembled. At this point, the cut and stapled tissue can be removed from the jaw members.

For those procedures not requiring the cutting of tissue, the surgeon moves the selector bar 304 to the deactivated position (FIG. 12). When in that position, the pusher block 122 is free to be longitudinally advanced in the distal direction on the knife bar 136 without causing the knife bar 136 to be distally advanced. Thus, movement of the pusher block 122 activates the staple pusher bars 124 in the manner described above, but no tissue is cut by the blade 138. Accordingly, these embodiments provide the surgeon of the additional flexibility of being able to staple tissue without cutting through it. In addition, various embodiments of the present invention include a staple cartridge that has multiple rows of staples operably supported therein and a fresh cutting blade that may or may not be used. If the surgeon desires to cut the tissue during the firing of the staples, the selector bar is moved to the activated position and the pusher bar is advanced. Once the tissue has been cut and the staples are fired, the cartridge may be disposed of. Such arrangement enables the surgical instrument to be reused with a fresh cartridge that contains a new knife blade. Still other embodiments employ a reusable knife blade arrangement.

The devices disclosed herein can be designed to be disposed of after a single use, or they can be designed to be used multiple times. In either case, however, the device can be reconditioned for reuse after at least one use. Reconditioning can include any combination of the steps of disassembly of the device, followed by cleaning or replacement of particular pieces, and subsequent reassembly. In particular, the device can be disassembled, and any number of the particular pieces or parts of the device can be selectively replaced or removed in any combination. Upon cleaning and/or replacement of particular parts, the device can be reassembled for subsequent use either at a reconditioning facility, or by a surgical team immediately prior to a surgical procedure. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that reconditioning of a device can utilize a variety of techniques for disassembly, cleaning/replacement, and reassembly. Use of such techniques, and the resulting reconditioned device, are all within the scope of the present application.

Preferably, the invention described herein will be processed before surgery. First, a new or used instrument is obtained and if necessary cleaned. The instrument can then be sterilized. In one sterilization technique, the instrument is placed in a closed and sealed container, such as a plastic or TYVEK bag. The container and instrument are then placed in a field of radiation that can penetrate the container, such as gamma radiation, x-rays, or high-energy electrons. The radiation kills bacteria on the instrument and in the container. The sterilized instrument can then be stored in the sterile container. The sealed container keeps the instrument sterile until it is opened in the medical facility.

Any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in whole or in part, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein is incorporated herein only to the extent that the incorporated materials does not conflict with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth in this disclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth herein will only be incorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between that incorporated material and the existing disclosure material.

While this invention has been described as having exemplary designs, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a first jaw member configured to operably support a staple cartridge that has a plurality of staples therein;
a second jaw member removably couplable to said first jaw member to enable tissue to be clamped therebetween;
at least one pusher bar assembly operably supported relative to said first jaw member and being configured to selectively apply a firing motion to the staples supported in the staple cartridge as said at least one pusher bar assembly is distally advanced through the staple cartridge;
a knife bar operably supported relative to said first jaw member and said at least one pusher bar assembly, said knife bar being configured to cut tissue clamped between said first and second jaw members; and
a selector switch operably interfacing with said knife bar and being movable between an activated position wherein an application of an activation motion to said at least one pusher bar assembly causes said knife bar and said at least one pusher bar assembly to simultaneously move in a distal direction within said first jaw member and a deactivated position whereupon application of said activation motion to said at least one pusher bar assembly causes said at least one pusher bar assembly to move in said distal direction without moving said knife bar in said distal direction.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said knife bar and said at least one pusher bar assembly are operably supported by a pusher block that is movably supported within a portion of said first jaw member, said pusher block operably interfacing with said selector switch.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein said selector switch comprises a selector bar movably supported within said pusher block and being selectively movable between said activated position wherein said pusher block is coupled to said knife bar and a said deactivated position wherein said pusher block is selectively movable relative to said knife bar.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein said at least one pusher bar is attached to said pusher block and wherein said knife bar is slidably received within a longitudinal slot in said pusher block and wherein said selector bar is selectively movable along an axis that is substantially transverse to said longitudinal slot between said activated and deactivated positions.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said knife bar has a blade on a distal end thereof.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein said blade is detachable from said distal end of said knife bar.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, comprising a blade operably supported in said staple cartridge and configured to receive a cutting motion from said knife bar.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein said distal end of said knife bar is configured to abut said blade in said staple cartridge and advance said blade distally within said staple cartridge upon said application of said activation motion to said knife bar.

9. A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:

a first jaw member configured to operably support a staple cartridge having a plurality of staples stored therein, wherein at least one of said first jaw member and the staple cartridge is configured to slidably support a staple driver configured to deploy the staples from the staple cartridge;
a second jaw member removably couplable to said first jaw member for selectively clamping tissue therebetween, said second jaw member having an anvil portion configured to deform the staples when the staples are deployed from the staple cartridge;
at least one pusher bar configured to move the staple driver relative to said first jaw member and said second jaw member;
an actuator knob extending from said at least one pusher bar and being movable toward distal ends of said first and second jaw members;
a knife bar operably supported relative to said actuator knob; and
selector means interacting with said actuator knob and said knife bar for selectively engaging said knife bar with said actuator knob such that when said actuator knob is moved toward said distal ends of said first and second jaw members, said knife bar and said at least one pusher bar are advanced toward said distal ends of said first and second jaw members, said selector means further configured to selectively disengage the knife bar from said actuator knob such that when said actuator knob is moved toward said distal ends of said first and second jaw members, said at least one pusher bar is advanced toward said distal ends of said first and second jaw members without said knife bar being advanced therewith.

10. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a first jaw member configured to operably support a staple cartridge that has a plurality of staples therein;
a second jaw member coupled to said first jaw member for selectively clamping tissue therebetween;
at least one pusher member assembly configured to selectively apply a firing motion to the staples supported in the staple cartridge as said at least one pusher member assembly is distally advanced through the staple cartridge;
a knife member configured to cut tissue clamped between said first and second jaw members; and
a selector operably interfacing with said knife member, and being movable between a deactivated position wherein said at least one pusher member assembly is configured to move without moving said knife member therewith, and an activated position which enables said knife member and said at least one pusher member assembly to move simultaneously.

11. A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:

a first jaw member configured to operably support a staple cartridge having a plurality of staples stored therein, wherein at least one of said first jaw member and the staple cartridge is configured to slidably support a staple driver configured to deploy the staples from the staple cartridge;
a second jaw member coupled to said first jaw member for selectively clamping tissue therebetween, said second jaw member having an anvil portion configured to deform the staples when the staples are deployed from the staple cartridge;
at least one pusher member configured to move the staple driver relative to said first jaw member and said second jaw member;
a knife member configured to cut tissue clamped between said first and second jaw members;
an actuator operably engaged to said at least one pusher member; and
an activator for selectively engaging said knife member with said actuator such that when said activator is activated, said actuator actuates said knife member and said at least one pusher member simultaneously, and when the activator is deactivated, said actuator engages said at least one pusher member without engaging said knife member therewith.
Referenced Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
3490675 January 1970 Green et al.
3499591 March 1970 Green
3551987 January 1971 Wilkinson
3643851 February 1972 Green et al.
3662939 May 1972 Bryan
3717294 February 1973 Green
3819100 June 1974 Noiles et al.
RE28932 August 17, 1976 Noiles et al.
4296881 October 27, 1981 Lee
4304236 December 8, 1981 Conta et al.
4331277 May 25, 1982 Green
4383634 May 17, 1983 Green
4396139 August 2, 1983 Hall et al.
4402445 September 6, 1983 Green
4415112 November 15, 1983 Green
4429695 February 7, 1984 Green
4475679 October 9, 1984 Fleury, Jr.
4489875 December 25, 1984 Crawford et al.
4500024 February 19, 1985 DiGiovanni et al.
4505273 March 19, 1985 Braun et al.
4505414 March 19, 1985 Filipi
4506671 March 26, 1985 Green
4520817 June 4, 1985 Green
4522327 June 11, 1985 Korthoff et al.
4527724 July 9, 1985 Chow et al.
4530453 July 23, 1985 Green
4566620 January 28, 1986 Green et al.
4573468 March 4, 1986 Conta et al.
4573622 March 4, 1986 Green et al.
4580712 April 8, 1986 Green
4605001 August 12, 1986 Rothfuss et al.
4608981 September 2, 1986 Rothfuss et al.
4610383 September 9, 1986 Rothfuss et al.
4629107 December 16, 1986 Fedotov et al.
4632290 December 30, 1986 Green et al.
4633874 January 6, 1987 Chow et al.
4655222 April 7, 1987 Florez et al.
4664305 May 12, 1987 Blake, III et al.
4671445 June 9, 1987 Barker et al.
4715520 December 29, 1987 Roehr, Jr. et al.
4728020 March 1, 1988 Green et al.
4752024 June 21, 1988 Green et al.
4754909 July 5, 1988 Barker et al.
4767044 August 30, 1988 Green
4805823 February 21, 1989 Rothfuss
4809695 March 7, 1989 Gwathmey et al.
4817847 April 4, 1989 Redtenbacher et al.
4819853 April 11, 1989 Green
4821939 April 18, 1989 Green
4844068 July 4, 1989 Arata et al.
4869414 September 26, 1989 Green et al.
4869415 September 26, 1989 Fox
4892244 January 9, 1990 Fox et al.
4938408 July 3, 1990 Bedi et al.
4941623 July 17, 1990 Pruitt
4944443 July 31, 1990 Oddsen et al.
4978049 December 18, 1990 Green
5027834 July 2, 1991 Pruitt
5065929 November 19, 1991 Schulze et al.
5071430 December 10, 1991 de Salis et al.
5074454 December 24, 1991 Peters
5083695 January 28, 1992 Foslien et al.
5129570 July 14, 1992 Schulze et al.
5137198 August 11, 1992 Nobis et al.
5139513 August 18, 1992 Segato
5141144 August 25, 1992 Foslien et al.
5156614 October 20, 1992 Green et al.
5158567 October 27, 1992 Green
5173133 December 22, 1992 Morin et al.
5211649 May 18, 1993 Kohler et al.
5219111 June 15, 1993 Bilotti et al.
5221036 June 22, 1993 Takase
5222975 June 29, 1993 Crainich
5236440 August 17, 1993 Hlavacek
5258009 November 2, 1993 Conners
5263629 November 23, 1993 Trumbull et al.
5282806 February 1, 1994 Haber et al.
5282829 February 1, 1994 Hermes
5285945 February 15, 1994 Brinkerhoff et al.
5304204 April 19, 1994 Bregen
5309927 May 10, 1994 Welch
5342395 August 30, 1994 Jarrett et al.
5342396 August 30, 1994 Cook
5350400 September 27, 1994 Esposito et al.
5366133 November 22, 1994 Geiste
5366479 November 22, 1994 McGarry et al.
5395034 March 7, 1995 Allen et al.
5397324 March 14, 1995 Carroll et al.
5405072 April 11, 1995 Zlock et al.
5413272 May 9, 1995 Green et al.
5417361 May 23, 1995 Williamson, IV
5425745 June 20, 1995 Green et al.
5445304 August 29, 1995 Plyley et al.
5447265 September 5, 1995 Vidal et al.
5452837 September 26, 1995 Williamson, IV et al.
5465895 November 14, 1995 Knodel et al.
5474566 December 12, 1995 Alesi et al.
5478354 December 26, 1995 Tovey et al.
5480089 January 2, 1996 Blewett
5482197 January 9, 1996 Green et al.
5484095 January 16, 1996 Green et al.
5484451 January 16, 1996 Akopov et al.
5485947 January 23, 1996 Olson et al.
5485952 January 23, 1996 Fontayne
5487499 January 30, 1996 Sorrentino et al.
5487500 January 30, 1996 Knodel et al.
5489058 February 6, 1996 Plyley et al.
5497933 March 12, 1996 DeFonzo et al.
5503320 April 2, 1996 Webster et al.
5505363 April 9, 1996 Green et al.
5507426 April 16, 1996 Young et al.
5509596 April 23, 1996 Green et al.
5511564 April 30, 1996 Wilk
5520700 May 28, 1996 Beyar et al.
5529235 June 25, 1996 Boiarski et al.
5533661 July 9, 1996 Main et al.
5535934 July 16, 1996 Boiarski et al.
5535935 July 16, 1996 Vidal et al.
5535937 July 16, 1996 Boiarski et al.
5540375 July 30, 1996 Bolanos et al.
5542594 August 6, 1996 McKean et al.
5547117 August 20, 1996 Hamblin et al.
5553765 September 10, 1996 Knodel et al.
5554169 September 10, 1996 Green et al.
5560530 October 1, 1996 Bolanos et al.
5560532 October 1, 1996 DeFonzo et al.
5562239 October 8, 1996 Boiarski et al.
5562241 October 8, 1996 Knodel et al.
5562682 October 8, 1996 Oberlin et al.
5564615 October 15, 1996 Bishop et al.
5571116 November 5, 1996 Bolanos et al.
5575799 November 19, 1996 Bolanos et al.
5577654 November 26, 1996 Bishop
5579978 December 3, 1996 Green et al.
5580067 December 3, 1996 Hamblin et al.
5584425 December 17, 1996 Savage et al.
5586711 December 24, 1996 Plyley et al.
5588579 December 31, 1996 Schnut et al.
5588580 December 31, 1996 Paul et al.
5588581 December 31, 1996 Conlon et al.
5597107 January 28, 1997 Knodel et al.
5601224 February 11, 1997 Bishop et al.
5603443 February 18, 1997 Clark et al.
5605272 February 25, 1997 Witt et al.
5605273 February 25, 1997 Hamblin et al.
5607094 March 4, 1997 Clark et al.
5609285 March 11, 1997 Grant et al.
5624452 April 29, 1997 Yates
5628446 May 13, 1997 Geiste et al.
5630539 May 20, 1997 Plyley et al.
5630540 May 20, 1997 Blewett
5632432 May 27, 1997 Schulze et al.
5632433 May 27, 1997 Grant et al.
5634584 June 3, 1997 Okorocha et al.
5636779 June 10, 1997 Palmer
5636780 June 10, 1997 Green et al.
5639008 June 17, 1997 Gallagher et al.
5645209 July 8, 1997 Green et al.
5647526 July 15, 1997 Green et al.
5649937 July 22, 1997 Bito et al.
5651491 July 29, 1997 Heaton et al.
5653373 August 5, 1997 Green et al.
5653374 August 5, 1997 Young et al.
5655698 August 12, 1997 Yoon
5657921 August 19, 1997 Young et al.
5662258 September 2, 1997 Knodel et al.
5662260 September 2, 1997 Yoon
5667527 September 16, 1997 Cook
5669544 September 23, 1997 Schulze et al.
5669918 September 23, 1997 Balazs et al.
5673840 October 7, 1997 Schulze et al.
5673841 October 7, 1997 Schulze et al.
5673842 October 7, 1997 Bittner et al.
5678748 October 21, 1997 Plyley et al.
5680981 October 28, 1997 Mililli et al.
5680982 October 28, 1997 Schulze et al.
5680983 October 28, 1997 Plyley et al.
5685474 November 11, 1997 Seeber
5690269 November 25, 1997 Bolanos et al.
5692668 December 2, 1997 Schulze et al.
5697543 December 16, 1997 Burdorff
5702408 December 30, 1997 Wales et al.
5704534 January 6, 1998 Huitema et al.
5706997 January 13, 1998 Green et al.
5706998 January 13, 1998 Plyley et al.
5709334 January 20, 1998 Sorrentino et al.
5711472 January 27, 1998 Bryan
5713505 February 3, 1998 Huitema
5715987 February 10, 1998 Kelley et al.
5715988 February 10, 1998 Palmer
5716366 February 10, 1998 Yates
5718359 February 17, 1998 Palmer et al.
5718360 February 17, 1998 Green et al.
5725536 March 10, 1998 Oberlin et al.
5725554 March 10, 1998 Simon et al.
5728110 March 17, 1998 Vidal et al.
5730758 March 24, 1998 Allgeyer
5732871 March 31, 1998 Clark et al.
5732872 March 31, 1998 Bolduc et al.
5735445 April 7, 1998 Vidal et al.
5743456 April 28, 1998 Jones et al.
5752644 May 19, 1998 Bolanos et al.
5752965 May 19, 1998 Francis et al.
5758814 June 2, 1998 Gallagher et al.
5762255 June 9, 1998 Chrisman et al.
5762256 June 9, 1998 Mastri et al.
5772578 June 30, 1998 Heimberger et al.
5779130 July 14, 1998 Alesi et al.
5779131 July 14, 1998 Knodel et al.
5779132 July 14, 1998 Knodel et al.
5782396 July 21, 1998 Mastri et al.
5782397 July 21, 1998 Koukline
5785232 July 28, 1998 Vidal et al.
5787897 August 4, 1998 Kieturakis
5794834 August 18, 1998 Hamblin et al.
5797536 August 25, 1998 Smith et al.
5797537 August 25, 1998 Oberlin et al.
5797538 August 25, 1998 Heaton et al.
5799857 September 1, 1998 Robertson et al.
5820009 October 13, 1998 Melling et al.
5826776 October 27, 1998 Schulze et al.
5833695 November 10, 1998 Yoon
5836503 November 17, 1998 Ehrenfels et al.
5839639 November 24, 1998 Sauer et al.
5855311 January 5, 1999 Hamblin et al.
5855583 January 5, 1999 Wang et al.
5865361 February 2, 1999 Milliman et al.
5868760 February 9, 1999 McGuckin, Jr.
5871135 February 16, 1999 Williamson, IV et al.
5878937 March 9, 1999 Green et al.
5878938 March 9, 1999 Bittner et al.
5893506 April 13, 1999 Powell
5894979 April 20, 1999 Powell
5897562 April 27, 1999 Bolanos et al.
5901895 May 11, 1999 Heaton et al.
5908427 June 1, 1999 McKean et al.
5911353 June 15, 1999 Bolanos et al.
5915616 June 29, 1999 Viola et al.
5918791 July 6, 1999 Sorrentino et al.
5919198 July 6, 1999 Graves, Jr. et al.
5937951 August 17, 1999 Izuchukwu et al.
5941442 August 24, 1999 Geiste et al.
5954259 September 21, 1999 Viola et al.
5988479 November 23, 1999 Palmer
6003517 December 21, 1999 Sheffield et al.
6010054 January 4, 2000 Johnson et al.
6032849 March 7, 2000 Mastri et al.
6045560 April 4, 2000 McKean et al.
6050472 April 18, 2000 Shibata
6053390 April 25, 2000 Green et al.
6079606 June 27, 2000 Milliman et al.
6083242 July 4, 2000 Cook
6086600 July 11, 2000 Kortenbach
6099551 August 8, 2000 Gabbay
6102271 August 15, 2000 Longo et al.
6109500 August 29, 2000 Alli et al.
6119913 September 19, 2000 Adams et al.
6126058 October 3, 2000 Adams et al.
6131789 October 17, 2000 Schulze et al.
6155473 December 5, 2000 Tompkins et al.
6171330 January 9, 2001 Benchetrit
6193129 February 27, 2001 Bittner et al.
6202914 March 20, 2001 Geiste et al.
6234178 May 22, 2001 Goble et al.
6241139 June 5, 2001 Milliman et al.
6250532 June 26, 2001 Green et al.
6264086 July 24, 2001 McGuckin, Jr.
6264087 July 24, 2001 Whitman
6273897 August 14, 2001 Dalessandro et al.
6302311 October 16, 2001 Adams et al.
6315184 November 13, 2001 Whitman
6325810 December 4, 2001 Hamilton et al.
6330965 December 18, 2001 Milliman et al.
6387113 May 14, 2002 Hawkins et al.
RE37814 August 6, 2002 Allgeyer
6436107 August 20, 2002 Wang et al.
6439446 August 27, 2002 Perry et al.
6443973 September 3, 2002 Whitman
6488196 December 3, 2002 Fenton, Jr.
6488197 December 3, 2002 Whitman
6491201 December 10, 2002 Whitman
6505768 January 14, 2003 Whitman
6510854 January 28, 2003 Goble
6517565 February 11, 2003 Whitman et al.
6517566 February 11, 2003 Hovland et al.
6543456 April 8, 2003 Freeman
6578751 June 17, 2003 Hartwick
6588643 July 8, 2003 Bolduc et al.
6601749 August 5, 2003 Sullivan et al.
6616686 September 9, 2003 Coleman et al.
6619529 September 16, 2003 Green et al.
6629630 October 7, 2003 Adams
6629988 October 7, 2003 Weadock
6644532 November 11, 2003 Green et al.
6669073 December 30, 2003 Milliman et al.
6681978 January 27, 2004 Geiste et al.
6681979 January 27, 2004 Whitman
6695199 February 24, 2004 Whitman
6698643 March 2, 2004 Whitman
6716233 April 6, 2004 Whitman
6722552 April 20, 2004 Fenton, Jr.
6755338 June 29, 2004 Hahnen et al.
6769594 August 3, 2004 Orban, III
6773438 August 10, 2004 Knodel et al.
6786382 September 7, 2004 Hoffman
6805273 October 19, 2004 Bilotti et al.
6817508 November 16, 2004 Racenet et al.
6817509 November 16, 2004 Geiste et al.
6830174 December 14, 2004 Hillstead et al.
6843403 January 18, 2005 Whitman
RE38708 March 1, 2005 Bolanos et al.
6866178 March 15, 2005 Adams et al.
6874669 April 5, 2005 Adams et al.
6877647 April 12, 2005 Green et al.
6905057 June 14, 2005 Swayze et al.
6939358 September 6, 2005 Palacios et al.
6945444 September 20, 2005 Gresham et al.
6953138 October 11, 2005 Dworak et al.
6953139 October 11, 2005 Milliman et al.
6959851 November 1, 2005 Heinrich
6964363 November 15, 2005 Wales et al.
6978921 December 27, 2005 Shelton, IV et al.
6978922 December 27, 2005 Bilotti et al.
6981628 January 3, 2006 Wales
6986451 January 17, 2006 Mastri et al.
6988649 January 24, 2006 Shelton, IV et al.
6988650 January 24, 2006 Schwemberger et al.
6997931 February 14, 2006 Sauer et al.
7000818 February 21, 2006 Shelton, IV et al.
7000819 February 21, 2006 Swayze et al.
7008435 March 7, 2006 Cummins
7032798 April 25, 2006 Whitman et al.
7032799 April 25, 2006 Viola et al.
7044352 May 16, 2006 Shelton, IV et al.
7044353 May 16, 2006 Mastri et al.
7055730 June 6, 2006 Ehrenfels et al.
7055731 June 6, 2006 Shelton, IV et al.
7056330 June 6, 2006 Gayton
7059331 June 13, 2006 Adams et al.
7059508 June 13, 2006 Shelton, IV et al.
7070083 July 4, 2006 Jankowski
7077856 July 18, 2006 Whitman
7080769 July 25, 2006 Vresh et al.
7083075 August 1, 2006 Swayze et al.
7090684 August 15, 2006 McGuckin, Jr. et al.
7097089 August 29, 2006 Marczyk
7108709 September 19, 2006 Cummins
7111769 September 26, 2006 Wales et al.
7114642 October 3, 2006 Whitman
7118582 October 10, 2006 Wang et al.
7121446 October 17, 2006 Arad et al.
7128253 October 31, 2006 Mastri et al.
7128254 October 31, 2006 Shelton, IV et al.
7131445 November 7, 2006 Amoah
7140527 November 28, 2006 Ehrenfels et al.
7140528 November 28, 2006 Shelton, IV
7143923 December 5, 2006 Shelton, IV et al.
7143924 December 5, 2006 Scirica et al.
7143925 December 5, 2006 Shelton, IV et al.
7147138 December 12, 2006 Shelton, IV
7147139 December 12, 2006 Schwemberger et al.
7156863 January 2, 2007 Sonnenschein et al.
7159750 January 9, 2007 Racenet et al.
7168604 January 30, 2007 Milliman et al.
7172104 February 6, 2007 Scirica et al.
7182239 February 27, 2007 Myers
7188758 March 13, 2007 Viola et al.
7207471 April 24, 2007 Heinrich et al.
7207472 April 24, 2007 Wukusick et al.
7210609 May 1, 2007 Leiboff et al.
7213736 May 8, 2007 Wales et al.
7220272 May 22, 2007 Weadock
7225963 June 5, 2007 Scirica
7225964 June 5, 2007 Mastri et al.
7234624 June 26, 2007 Gresham et al.
7237708 July 3, 2007 Guy et al.
7238195 July 3, 2007 Viola
7246734 July 24, 2007 Shelton, IV
7258262 August 21, 2007 Mastri et al.
7278562 October 9, 2007 Mastri et al.
7278563 October 9, 2007 Green
7293685 November 13, 2007 Ehrenfels et al.
7296724 November 20, 2007 Green et al.
7303106 December 4, 2007 Milliman et al.
7303107 December 4, 2007 Milliman et al.
7303108 December 4, 2007 Shelton, IV
7328828 February 12, 2008 Ortiz et al.
7328829 February 12, 2008 Arad et al.
7334717 February 26, 2008 Rethy et al.
7343920 March 18, 2008 Toby et al.
7354447 April 8, 2008 Shelton, IV et al.
7357287 April 15, 2008 Shelton, IV et al.
7364060 April 29, 2008 Milliman
7364061 April 29, 2008 Swayze et al.
7380695 June 3, 2008 Doll et al.
7380696 June 3, 2008 Shelton, IV et al.
7398907 July 15, 2008 Racenet et al.
7398908 July 15, 2008 Holsten et al.
7404508 July 29, 2008 Smith et al.
7404509 July 29, 2008 Ortiz et al.
7407075 August 5, 2008 Holsten et al.
7407078 August 5, 2008 Shelton, IV et al.
7410086 August 12, 2008 Ortiz et al.
7416101 August 26, 2008 Shelton, IV et al.
7419080 September 2, 2008 Smith et al.
7419081 September 2, 2008 Ehrenfels et al.
7422136 September 9, 2008 Marczyk
7422139 September 9, 2008 Shelton, IV et al.
7424965 September 16, 2008 Racenet et al.
7431188 October 7, 2008 Marczyk
7431189 October 7, 2008 Shelton, IV et al.
7431730 October 7, 2008 Viola
7434715 October 14, 2008 Shelton, IV et al.
7434717 October 14, 2008 Shelton, IV et al.
7438209 October 21, 2008 Hess et al.
7441684 October 28, 2008 Shelton, IV et al.
7441685 October 28, 2008 Boudreaux
7448525 November 11, 2008 Shelton, IV et al.
7455208 November 25, 2008 Wales et al.
7455682 November 25, 2008 Viola
7461767 December 9, 2008 Viola et al.
7464846 December 16, 2008 Shelton, IV et al.
7464847 December 16, 2008 Viola et al.
7464849 December 16, 2008 Shelton, IV et al.
7467740 December 23, 2008 Shelton, IV et al.
7472814 January 6, 2009 Mastri et al.
7472815 January 6, 2009 Shelton, IV et al.
7481347 January 27, 2009 Roy
7481349 January 27, 2009 Holsten et al.
7490749 February 17, 2009 Schall et al.
7494039 February 24, 2009 Racenet et al.
7500979 March 10, 2009 Hueil et al.
7506790 March 24, 2009 Shelton, IV
7506791 March 24, 2009 Omaits et al.
7510107 March 31, 2009 Timm et al.
7546940 June 16, 2009 Milliman et al.
7549563 June 23, 2009 Mather et al.
7549564 June 23, 2009 Boudreaux
7552854 June 30, 2009 Wixey et al.
7556185 July 7, 2009 Viola
7559450 July 14, 2009 Wales et al.
7559452 July 14, 2009 Wales et al.
7568603 August 4, 2009 Shelton, IV et al.
7568604 August 4, 2009 Ehrenfels et al.
7575144 August 18, 2009 Ortiz et al.
7588175 September 15, 2009 Timm et al.
7588176 September 15, 2009 Timm et al.
7597229 October 6, 2009 Boudreaux et al.
7600663 October 13, 2009 Green
7604150 October 20, 2009 Boudreaux
7604151 October 20, 2009 Hess et al.
7607557 October 27, 2009 Shelton, IV et al.
7611038 November 3, 2009 Racenet et al.
7624902 December 1, 2009 Marczyk et al.
7631793 December 15, 2009 Rethy et al.
7637409 December 29, 2009 Marczyk
7641092 January 5, 2010 Kruszynski et al.
7641093 January 5, 2010 Doll et al.
7644848 January 12, 2010 Swayze et al.
7658311 February 9, 2010 Boudreaux
7665646 February 23, 2010 Prommersberger
7665647 February 23, 2010 Shelton, IV et al.
7669746 March 2, 2010 Shelton, IV
7669747 March 2, 2010 Weisenburgh, II et al.
7670334 March 2, 2010 Hueil et al.
7673780 March 9, 2010 Shelton, IV et al.
7673781 March 9, 2010 Swayze et al.
7673782 March 9, 2010 Hess et al.
7673783 March 9, 2010 Morgan et al.
7699204 April 20, 2010 Viola
7717312 May 18, 2010 Beetel
7721930 May 25, 2010 McKenna et al.
7721931 May 25, 2010 Shelton, IV et al.
7721933 May 25, 2010 Ehrenfels et al.
7721934 May 25, 2010 Shelton, IV et al.
7721936 May 25, 2010 Shalton, IV et al.
7722610 May 25, 2010 Viola et al.
7726537 June 1, 2010 Olson et al.
7726538 June 1, 2010 Holsten et al.
7731072 June 8, 2010 Timm et al.
7735703 June 15, 2010 Morgan et al.
7738971 June 15, 2010 Swayze et al.
7740159 June 22, 2010 Shelton, IV et al.
7743960 June 29, 2010 Whitman et al.
7753245 July 13, 2010 Boudreaux et al.
7753904 July 13, 2010 Shelton, IV et al.
7766209 August 3, 2010 Baxter, III et al.
7766210 August 3, 2010 Shelton, IV et al.
7770775 August 10, 2010 Shelton, IV et al.
7780054 August 24, 2010 Wales
7780055 August 24, 2010 Scirica et al.
7784662 August 31, 2010 Wales et al.
7793812 September 14, 2010 Moore et al.
7794475 September 14, 2010 Hess et al.
7798386 September 21, 2010 Schall et al.
7799039 September 21, 2010 Shelton, IV et al.
7810692 October 12, 2010 Hall et al.
7810693 October 12, 2010 Broehl et al.
7819296 October 26, 2010 Hueil et al.
7819297 October 26, 2010 Doll et al.
7819298 October 26, 2010 Hall et al.
7819299 October 26, 2010 Shelton, IV et al.
7832408 November 16, 2010 Shelton, IV et al.
7832611 November 16, 2010 Boyden et al.
7832612 November 16, 2010 Baxter, III et al.
7837080 November 23, 2010 Schwemberger
7837081 November 23, 2010 Holsten et al.
7845533 December 7, 2010 Marczyk et al.
7845534 December 7, 2010 Viola et al.
7845537 December 7, 2010 Shelton, IV et al.
7857185 December 28, 2010 Swayze et al.
7857186 December 28, 2010 Baxter, III et al.
7861906 January 4, 2011 Doll et al.
7866527 January 11, 2011 Hall et al.
7870989 January 18, 2011 Viola et al.
7900805 March 8, 2011 Shelton, IV et al.
7905380 March 15, 2011 Shelton, IV et al.
7905381 March 15, 2011 Baxter, III et al.
7909221 March 22, 2011 Viola et al.
7913891 March 29, 2011 Doll et al.
7918377 April 5, 2011 Measamer et al.
7922061 April 12, 2011 Shelton, IV et al.
7922063 April 12, 2011 Zemlok et al.
7934630 May 3, 2011 Shelton, IV et al.
7938307 May 10, 2011 Bettuchi
7942303 May 17, 2011 Shah
7950560 May 31, 2011 Zemlok et al.
7959050 June 14, 2011 Smith et al.
7967180 June 28, 2011 Scirica
8002795 August 23, 2011 Beetel
8006889 August 30, 2011 Adams et al.
8011551 September 6, 2011 Marczyk et al.
8034077 October 11, 2011 Smith et al.
8038046 October 18, 2011 Smith et al.
D650074 December 6, 2011 Hunt et al.
8097017 January 17, 2012 Viola
8113410 February 14, 2012 Hall et al.
8123103 February 28, 2012 Milliman
8136712 March 20, 2012 Zingman
8157153 April 17, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
8167895 May 1, 2012 D'Agostino et al.
8172124 May 8, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
8245898 August 21, 2012 Smith et al.
20020117534 August 29, 2002 Green et al.
20040006372 January 8, 2004 Racenet et al.
20040034369 February 19, 2004 Sauer et al.
20040093024 May 13, 2004 Lousararian et al.
20040094597 May 20, 2004 Whitman et al.
20040108357 June 10, 2004 Milliman et al.
20040164123 August 26, 2004 Racenet et al.
20040167572 August 26, 2004 Roth et al.
20040173659 September 9, 2004 Green et al.
20040222268 November 11, 2004 Bilotti et al.
20040232201 November 25, 2004 Wenchell et al.
20040243151 December 2, 2004 Demmy et al.
20040254608 December 16, 2004 Huitema et al.
20040267310 December 30, 2004 Racenet et al.
20050059997 March 17, 2005 Bauman et al.
20050103819 May 19, 2005 Racenet et al.
20050119669 June 2, 2005 Demmy
20050125009 June 9, 2005 Perry et al.
20050143759 June 30, 2005 Kelly
20050145675 July 7, 2005 Hartwick et al.
20050184121 August 25, 2005 Heinrich
20050187576 August 25, 2005 Whitman et al.
20050189397 September 1, 2005 Jankowski
20050192628 September 1, 2005 Viola
20050216055 September 29, 2005 Scirica et al.
20050240222 October 27, 2005 Shipp
20050263563 December 1, 2005 Racenet et al.
20050274768 December 15, 2005 Cummins et al.
20060011699 January 19, 2006 Olson et al.
20060047307 March 2, 2006 Ortiz et al.
20060049229 March 9, 2006 Milliman et al.
20060052825 March 9, 2006 Ransick et al.
20060060630 March 23, 2006 Shelton, IV et al.
20060085033 April 20, 2006 Criscuolo et al.
20060100643 May 11, 2006 Laufer et al.
20060108393 May 25, 2006 Heinrich et al.
20060173470 August 3, 2006 Oray et al.
20060180634 August 17, 2006 Shelton, IV et al.
20060226196 October 12, 2006 Hueil et al.
20060235469 October 19, 2006 Viola
20060241692 October 26, 2006 McGuckin, Jr. et al.
20060278680 December 14, 2006 Viola et al.
20060278681 December 14, 2006 Viola et al.
20060289602 December 28, 2006 Wales et al.
20070023476 February 1, 2007 Whitman et al.
20070023477 February 1, 2007 Whitman et al.
20070034668 February 15, 2007 Holsten et al.
20070073341 March 29, 2007 Smith
20070084897 April 19, 2007 Shelton, IV et al.
20070102472 May 10, 2007 Shelton, IV
20070106317 May 10, 2007 Shelton, IV et al.
20070114261 May 24, 2007 Ortiz et al.
20070170225 July 26, 2007 Shelton, IV et al.
20070175949 August 2, 2007 Shelton, IV et al.
20070175950 August 2, 2007 Shelton, IV et al.
20070175951 August 2, 2007 Shelton, IV et al.
20070175953 August 2, 2007 Shelton, IV et al.
20070175955 August 2, 2007 Shelton, IV et al.
20070181632 August 9, 2007 Milliman
20070194079 August 23, 2007 Hueil et al.
20070194081 August 23, 2007 Hueil et al.
20070194082 August 23, 2007 Morgan et al.
20070221700 September 27, 2007 Ortiz et al.
20070221701 September 27, 2007 Ortiz et al.
20070225562 September 27, 2007 Spivey et al.
20070246505 October 25, 2007 Pace-Floridia et al.
20070270884 November 22, 2007 Smith et al.
20070295780 December 27, 2007 Shelton et al.
20080029570 February 7, 2008 Shelton et al.
20080029573 February 7, 2008 Shelton et al.
20080029574 February 7, 2008 Shelton et al.
20080029575 February 7, 2008 Shelton et al.
20080035701 February 14, 2008 Racenet et al.
20080041916 February 21, 2008 Milliman et al.
20080041917 February 21, 2008 Racenet et al.
20080078800 April 3, 2008 Hess et al.
20080078802 April 3, 2008 Hess et al.
20080078803 April 3, 2008 Shelton et al.
20080078804 April 3, 2008 Shelton et al.
20080078806 April 3, 2008 Omaits et al.
20080078807 April 3, 2008 Hess et al.
20080078808 April 3, 2008 Hess et al.
20080082115 April 3, 2008 Morgan et al.
20080082125 April 3, 2008 Murray et al.
20080082126 April 3, 2008 Murray et al.
20080083813 April 10, 2008 Zemlok et al.
20080140115 June 12, 2008 Stopek
20080167522 July 10, 2008 Giordano et al.
20080167671 July 10, 2008 Giordano et al.
20080167672 July 10, 2008 Giordano et al.
20080169328 July 17, 2008 Shelton
20080169329 July 17, 2008 Shelton et al.
20080169330 July 17, 2008 Shelton et al.
20080169331 July 17, 2008 Shelton et al.
20080169332 July 17, 2008 Shelton et al.
20080169333 July 17, 2008 Shelton et al.
20080172088 July 17, 2008 Smith et al.
20080185419 August 7, 2008 Smith et al.
20080197167 August 21, 2008 Viola et al.
20080237296 October 2, 2008 Boudreaux et al.
20080245841 October 9, 2008 Smith et al.
20080251568 October 16, 2008 Zemlok et al.
20080251569 October 16, 2008 Smith et al.
20080283570 November 20, 2008 Boyden et al.
20080290134 November 27, 2008 Bettuchi et al.
20080296346 December 4, 2008 Shelton, IV et al.
20080300580 December 4, 2008 Shelton, IV et al.
20080308602 December 18, 2008 Timm et al.
20080308603 December 18, 2008 Shelton, IV et al.
20080308608 December 18, 2008 Prommersberger
20080314957 December 25, 2008 Boudreaux
20080314960 December 25, 2008 Marczyk et al.
20090001121 January 1, 2009 Hess et al.
20090001122 January 1, 2009 Prommersberger et al.
20090001124 January 1, 2009 Hess et al.
20090001130 January 1, 2009 Hess et al.
20090005807 January 1, 2009 Hess et al.
20090005808 January 1, 2009 Hess et al.
20090005809 January 1, 2009 Hess et al.
20090012556 January 8, 2009 Boudreaux et al.
20090057369 March 5, 2009 Smith et al.
20090076534 March 19, 2009 Shelton, IV et al.
20090090763 April 9, 2009 Zemlok et al.
20090108048 April 30, 2009 Zemlok et al.
20090114701 May 7, 2009 Zemlok et al.
20090149871 June 11, 2009 Kagan et al.
20090206125 August 20, 2009 Huitema et al.
20090206126 August 20, 2009 Huitema et al.
20090206131 August 20, 2009 Weisenburgh, II et al.
20090206132 August 20, 2009 Hueil et al.
20090206133 August 20, 2009 Morgan et al.
20090206137 August 20, 2009 Hall et al.
20090206138 August 20, 2009 Smith et al.
20090206139 August 20, 2009 Hall et al.
20090206140 August 20, 2009 Scheib et al.
20090206141 August 20, 2009 Huitema et al.
20090206142 August 20, 2009 Huitema et al.
20090206143 August 20, 2009 Huitema et al.
20090209946 August 20, 2009 Swayze et al.
20090209990 August 20, 2009 Yates et al.
20090218384 September 3, 2009 Aranyi
20090242610 October 1, 2009 Shelton, IV et al.
20090255974 October 15, 2009 Viola
20090255975 October 15, 2009 Zemlok et al.
20090255976 October 15, 2009 Marczyk et al.
20090255977 October 15, 2009 Zemlok
20090255978 October 15, 2009 Viola et al.
20090308907 December 17, 2009 Nalagatla et al.
20100012704 January 21, 2010 Tarinelli Racenet et al.
20100023024 January 28, 2010 Zeiner et al.
20100032470 February 11, 2010 Hess et al.
20100065605 March 18, 2010 Shelton, IV et al.
20100069942 March 18, 2010 Shelton, IV
20100072252 March 25, 2010 Baxter, III et al.
20100072254 March 25, 2010 Aranyi et al.
20100076474 March 25, 2010 Yates et al.
20100076475 March 25, 2010 Yates et al.
20100089970 April 15, 2010 Smith et al.
20100089972 April 15, 2010 Marczyk
20100089974 April 15, 2010 Shelton, IV
20100096431 April 22, 2010 Smith et al.
20100108740 May 6, 2010 Pastorelli et al.
20100108741 May 6, 2010 Hessler et al.
20100127042 May 27, 2010 Shelton, IV
20100133317 June 3, 2010 Shelton, IV et al.
20100133318 June 3, 2010 Boudreaux
20100163598 July 1, 2010 Belzer
20100179382 July 15, 2010 Shelton, IV et al.
20100181364 July 22, 2010 Shelton, IV et al.
20100193566 August 5, 2010 Schieb et al.
20100193567 August 5, 2010 Scheib et al.
20100193568 August 5, 2010 Scheib et al.
20100193569 August 5, 2010 Yates et al.
20100198220 August 5, 2010 Boudreaux et al.
20100200637 August 12, 2010 Beetel
20100213241 August 26, 2010 Bedi
20100222901 September 2, 2010 Swayze et al.
20100224669 September 9, 2010 Shelton, IV et al.
20100230465 September 16, 2010 Smith et al.
20100237132 September 23, 2010 Measamer et al.
20100243707 September 30, 2010 Olson et al.
20100243708 September 30, 2010 Aranyi et al.
20100243709 September 30, 2010 Hess et al.
20100258611 October 14, 2010 Smith et al.
20100264193 October 21, 2010 Huang et al.
20100264194 October 21, 2010 Huang et al.
20100276471 November 4, 2010 Whitman
20100294827 November 25, 2010 Boyden et al.
20100294829 November 25, 2010 Giordano et al.
20100301095 December 2, 2010 Shelton, IV et al.
20100301096 December 2, 2010 Moore et al.
20100305552 December 2, 2010 Shelton, IV et al.
20100308100 December 9, 2010 Boudreaux
20110006099 January 13, 2011 Hall et al.
20110006101 January 13, 2011 Hall et al.
20110006103 January 13, 2011 Laurent et al.
20110011914 January 20, 2011 Baxter, III et al.
20110011915 January 20, 2011 Shelton, IV
20110017801 January 27, 2011 Zemlok et al.
20110024477 February 3, 2011 Hall et al.
20110024478 February 3, 2011 Shelton, IV
20110024479 February 3, 2011 Swensgard et al.
20110036887 February 17, 2011 Zemlok et al.
20110042441 February 24, 2011 Shelton, IV et al.
20110060363 March 10, 2011 Hess et al.
20110062212 March 17, 2011 Shelton, IV et al.
20110068145 March 24, 2011 Bedi et al.
20110068148 March 24, 2011 Hall et al.
20110084112 April 14, 2011 Kostrzewski
20110084113 April 14, 2011 Bedi et al.
20110084115 April 14, 2011 Bedi et al.
20110087276 April 14, 2011 Bedi et al.
20110095068 April 28, 2011 Patel
20110101065 May 5, 2011 Milliman
20110114697 May 19, 2011 Baxter, III et al.
20110114698 May 19, 2011 Baxter, III et al.
20110114699 May 19, 2011 Baxter, III et al.
20110114700 May 19, 2011 Baxter, III et al.
20110118761 May 19, 2011 Baxter, III et al.
20110121051 May 26, 2011 Shelton, IV et al.
20110125176 May 26, 2011 Yates et al.
20110125177 May 26, 2011 Yates et al.
20110132963 June 9, 2011 Giordano et al.
20110132964 June 9, 2011 Weisenburgh, II et al.
20110132965 June 9, 2011 Moore et al.
20110144430 June 16, 2011 Spivey et al.
20110147433 June 23, 2011 Shelton, IV et al.
20110147434 June 23, 2011 Hueil et al.
20110155780 June 30, 2011 Boudreaux
20110155781 June 30, 2011 Swensgard et al.
20110155785 June 30, 2011 Laurent et al.
20110155787 June 30, 2011 Baxter, III et al.
20110163147 July 7, 2011 Laurent et al.
20110174863 July 21, 2011 Shelton, IV et al.
20110192882 August 11, 2011 Hess et al.
20110210156 September 1, 2011 Smith et al.
20110226837 September 22, 2011 Baxter, III et al.
20110233258 September 29, 2011 Boudreaux
20110253766 October 20, 2011 Baxter, III et al.
20110275901 November 10, 2011 Shelton, IV
20110276083 November 10, 2011 Shelton, IV et al.
20110288573 November 24, 2011 Yates et al.
20110290851 December 1, 2011 Shelton, IV
20110290853 December 1, 2011 Shelton, IV et al.
20110290854 December 1, 2011 Timm et al.
20110290855 December 1, 2011 Moore et al.
20110290856 December 1, 2011 Shelton, IV et al.
20110290857 December 1, 2011 Shelton, IV et al.
20110295242 December 1, 2011 Spivey et al.
20110295269 December 1, 2011 Swensgard et al.
20110295270 December 1, 2011 Giordano et al.
20110295295 December 1, 2011 Shelton, IV et al.
20120024934 February 2, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120024935 February 2, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120029272 February 2, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120029544 February 2, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120029547 February 2, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120046692 February 23, 2012 Smith et al.
20120061448 March 15, 2012 Zingman
20120071711 March 22, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120071866 March 22, 2012 Kerr et al.
20120074196 March 29, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120074198 March 29, 2012 Huitema et al.
20120074200 March 29, 2012 Schmid et al.
20120074201 March 29, 2012 Baxter, III et al.
20120080332 April 5, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120080333 April 5, 2012 Woodard, Jr. et al.
20120080334 April 5, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120080335 April 5, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120080336 April 5, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120080337 April 5, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120080338 April 5, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120080339 April 5, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120080340 April 5, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120080344 April 5, 2012 Shelton, IV
20120080345 April 5, 2012 Morgan et al.
20120080475 April 5, 2012 Smith et al.
20120080477 April 5, 2012 Leimbach et al.
20120080478 April 5, 2012 Morgan et al.
20120080479 April 5, 2012 Shelton, IV
20120080480 April 5, 2012 Woodard, Jr. et al.
20120080481 April 5, 2012 Widenhouse et al.
20120080482 April 5, 2012 Schall et al.
20120080483 April 5, 2012 Riestenberg et al.
20120080484 April 5, 2012 Morgan et al.
20120080485 April 5, 2012 Woodard, Jr. et al.
20120080486 April 5, 2012 Woodard, Jr. et al.
20120080487 April 5, 2012 Woodard, Jr. et al.
20120080488 April 5, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120080489 April 5, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120080490 April 5, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120080491 April 5, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120080493 April 5, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120080496 April 5, 2012 Schall et al.
20120080498 April 5, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120080499 April 5, 2012 Schall et al.
20120080500 April 5, 2012 Morgan et al.
20120080501 April 5, 2012 Morgan et al.
20120080502 April 5, 2012 Morgan et al.
20120080503 April 5, 2012 Woodard, Jr. et al.
20120083833 April 5, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120083834 April 5, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120083835 April 5, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120083836 April 5, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120132450 May 31, 2012 Timm et al.
20120138660 June 7, 2012 Shelton, IV
20120160721 June 28, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120175399 July 12, 2012 Shelton et al.
20120187179 July 26, 2012 Gleiman
20120199630 August 9, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120199631 August 9, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120199632 August 9, 2012 Spivey et al.
20120199633 August 9, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120203247 August 9, 2012 Shelton, IV et al.
20120205421 August 16, 2012 Shelton, IV
20120211546 August 23, 2012 Shelton, IV
20120223123 September 6, 2012 Baxter, III et al.
20130172929 July 4, 2013 Hess et al.
20140014705 January 16, 2014 Baxter, III
20140042205 February 13, 2014 Baxter, III et al.
Foreign Patent Documents
2458946 March 2003 CA
2512960 January 2006 CA
2514274 January 2006 CA
1868411 November 2006 CN
1915180 February 2007 CN
101095621 January 2008 CN
273689 May 1914 DE
1775926 January 1972 DE
3036217 April 1982 DE
3210466 September 1983 DE
9412228 September 1994 DE
19509116 September 1996 DE
19924311 November 2000 DE
69328576 January 2001 DE
10052679 May 2001 DE
20112837 October 2001 DE
19851291 January 2002 DE
20121753 April 2003 DE
10314072 October 2004 DE
202007003114 June 2007 DE
0122046 October 1984 EP
0070230 October 1985 EP
0387980 October 1985 EP
0033548 May 1986 EP
0276104 July 1988 EP
0178940 January 1991 EP
0248844 January 1993 EP
0545029 June 1993 EP
0277959 October 1993 EP
0233940 November 1993 EP
0261230 November 1993 EP
0639349 February 1994 EP
0324636 March 1994 EP
0593920 April 1994 EP
0594148 April 1994 EP
0427949 June 1994 EP
0523174 June 1994 EP
0600182 June 1994 EP
0310431 November 1994 EP
0375302 November 1994 EP
0376562 November 1994 EP
0630612 December 1994 EP
0634144 January 1995 EP
0646356 April 1995 EP
0646357 April 1995 EP
0653189 May 1995 EP
0669104 August 1995 EP
0511470 October 1995 EP
0679367 November 1995 EP
0392547 December 1995 EP
0685204 December 1995 EP
0364216 January 1996 EP
0699418 March 1996 EP
0702937 March 1996 EP
0705571 April 1996 EP
0711611 May 1996 EP
0484677 June 1996 EP
0541987 July 1996 EP
0667119 July 1996 EP
0708618 March 1997 EP
0770355 May 1997 EP
0503662 June 1997 EP
0447121 July 1997 EP
0625077 July 1997 EP
0633749 August 1997 EP
0710090 August 1997 EP
0578425 September 1997 EP
0625335 November 1997 EP
0552423 January 1998 EP
0592244 January 1998 EP
0648476 January 1998 EP
0649290 March 1998 EP
0598618 September 1998 EP
0676173 September 1998 EP
0678007 31 September 1998 EP
0603472 November 1998 EP
0605351 November 1998 EP
0878169 November 1998 EP
0879742 November 1998 EP
0695144 December 1998 EP
0722296 December 1998 EP
0760230 February 1999 EP
0623316 March 1999 EP
0650701 March 1999 EP
0537572 June 1999 EP
0923907 June 1999 EP
0843906 March 2000 EP
0552050 May 2000 EP
0833592 May 2000 EP
0830094 September 2000 EP
1034747 September 2000 EP
1034748 September 2000 EP
0694290 November 2000 EP
1050278 November 2000 EP
1053719 November 2000 EP
1053720 November 2000 EP
1055399 November 2000 EP
1055400 November 2000 EP
1080694 March 2001 EP
1090592 April 2001 EP
1095627 May 2001 EP
1256318 May 2001 EP
0806914 September 2001 EP
0768840 December 2001 EP
0908152 January 2002 EP
0872213 May 2002 EP
0862386 June 2002 EP
0949886 September 2002 EP
1238634 September 2002 EP
0858295 December 2002 EP
0656188 January 2003 EP
1284120 February 2003 EP
1287788 March 2003 EP
0717966 April 2003 EP
0869742 May 2003 EP
0829235 June 2003 EP
0887046 July 2003 EP
0852480 August 2003 EP
0891154 September 2003 EP
0813843 October 2003 EP
0873089 October 2003 EP
0856326 November 2003 EP
1374788 January 2004 EP
0741996 February 2004 EP
0814712 February 2004 EP
1402837 March 2004 EP
0705570 April 2004 EP
0959784 April 2004 EP
1407719 April 2004 EP
1086713 May 2004 EP
0996378 June 2004 EP
1426012 June 2004 EP
0833593 July 2004 EP
1442694 August 2004 EP
0888749 September 2004 EP
0959786 September 2004 EP
1459695 September 2004 EP
1473819 November 2004 EP
1477119 November 2004 EP
1479345 November 2004 EP
1479347 November 2004 EP
1479348 November 2004 EP
0754437 December 2004 EP
1025807 December 2004 EP
1001710 January 2005 EP
1520521 April 2005 EP
1520523 April 2005 EP
1520525 April 2005 EP
1522264 April 2005 EP
1523942 April 2005 EP
1550408 July 2005 EP
1557129 July 2005 EP
1064883 August 2005 EP
1067876 August 2005 EP
0870473 September 2005 EP
1157666 September 2005 EP
0880338 October 2005 EP
1158917 November 2005 EP
1344498 November 2005 EP
1330989 December 2005 EP
0771176 January 2006 EP
1621138 February 2006 EP
1621139 February 2006 EP
1621141 February 2006 EP
1621145 February 2006 EP
1621151 February 2006 EP
1034746 March 2006 EP
1632191 March 2006 EP
1065981 May 2006 EP
1082944 May 2006 EP
1652481 May 2006 EP
1382303 June 2006 EP
1253866 July 2006 EP
1032318 August 2006 EP
1045672 August 2006 EP
1617768 August 2006 EP
1693015 August 2006 EP
1400214 September 2006 EP
1702567 September 2006 EP
1129665 November 2006 EP
1400206 November 2006 EP
1721568 November 2006 EP
1256317 December 2006 EP
1285633 December 2006 EP
1728473 December 2006 EP
1728475 December 2006 EP
1479346 January 2007 EP
1484024 January 2007 EP
1754445 February 2007 EP
1759812 March 2007 EP
1767163 March 2007 EP
1769756 April 2007 EP
1769758 April 2007 EP
1581128 May 2007 EP
1785097 May 2007 EP
1790293 May 2007 EP
1800610 June 2007 EP
1300117 August 2007 EP
1813199 August 2007 EP
1813201 August 2007 EP
1813203 August 2007 EP
1813207 August 2007 EP
1813209 August 2007 EP
1487359 October 2007 EP
1599146 October 2007 EP
1839596 October 2007 EP
1402821 December 2007 EP
1872727 January 2008 EP
1897502 March 2008 EP
1330201 June 2008 EP
1702568 July 2008 EP
1943957 July 2008 EP
1943976 July 2008 EP
1593337 August 2008 EP
1970014 September 2008 EP
1980213 October 2008 EP
1759645 November 2008 EP
1990014 November 2008 EP
1693008 December 2008 EP
1759640 December 2008 EP
2000102 December 2008 EP
1736104 March 2009 EP
1749486 March 2009 EP
2039316 March 2009 EP
1721576 April 2009 EP
1733686 April 2009 EP
2044890 April 2009 EP
1550413 June 2009 EP
1745748 August 2009 EP
2090256 August 2009 EP
1813208 November 2009 EP
1607050 December 2009 EP
1566150 April 2010 EP
1813206 April 2010 EP
1769754 June 2010 EP
1535565 October 2010 EP
1702570 October 2010 EP
1785098 October 2010 EP
1627605 81 December 2010 EP
1813205 June 2011 EP
1785102 January 2012 EP
2090234 September 2013 EP
999646 February 1952 FR
1112936 March 1956 FR
2765794 January 1999 FR
939929 October 1963 GB
1210522 October 1970 GB
1217159 December 1970 GB
1339394 December 1973 GB
2109241 June 1983 GB
2272159 May 1994 GB
2284242 May 1995 GB
2336214 October 1999 GB
2425903 November 2006 GB
S 58500053 January 1983 JP
61-98249 May 1986 JP
63-203149 August 1988 JP
3-12126 January 1991 JP
5-212039 August 1993 JP
6007357 January 1994 JP
7051273 February 1995 JP
8033641 February 1996 JP
8229050 September 1996 JP
2000033071 February 2000 JP
2000171730 June 2000 JP
2000287987 October 2000 JP
2000325303 November 2000 JP
2001-514541 September 2001 JP
2001286477 October 2001 JP
2002143078 May 2002 JP
2002369820 December 2002 JP
2004-344663 December 2004 JP
2005-028149 February 2005 JP
2005505322 February 2005 JP
2005103293 April 2005 JP
2005131163 May 2005 JP
2005131164 May 2005 JP
2005131173 May 2005 JP
2005131211 May 2005 JP
2005131212 May 2005 JP
2005137423 June 2005 JP
2005152416 June 2005 JP
2005-523105 August 2005 JP
2005524474 August 2005 JP
2006-281405 October 2006 JP
2008830 March 1994 RU
2187249 August 2002 RU
2225170 March 2004 RU
189517 January 1967 SU
328636 September 1972 SU
886900 December 1981 SU
1009439 April 1983 SU
1333319 August 1987 SU
1377053 February 1988 SU
1561964 May 1990 SU
1722476 March 1992 SU
WO 82/02824 September 1982 WO
WO 91/15157 October 1991 WO
WO 92/20295 November 1992 WO
WO 92/21300 December 1992 WO
WO 93/08755 May 1993 WO
WO 93/13718 July 1993 WO
WO 93/14690 August 1993 WO
WO 93/15648 August 1993 WO
WO 93/15850 August 1993 WO
WO 93/19681 October 1993 WO
WO 94/00060 January 1994 WO
WO 94/11057 May 1994 WO
WO 94/12108 June 1994 WO
WO 94/18893 September 1994 WO
WO 94/22378 October 1994 WO
WO 94/23659 October 1994 WO
WO 95/02369 January 1995 WO
WO 95/03743 February 1995 WO
WO 95/06817 March 1995 WO
WO 95/09576 April 1995 WO
WO 95/09577 April 1995 WO
WO 95/14436 June 1995 WO
WO 95/17855 July 1995 WO
WO 95/18383 July 1995 WO
WO 95/18572 July 1995 WO
WO 95/19739 July 1995 WO
WO 95/20360 August 1995 WO
WO 95/23557 September 1995 WO
WO 95/24865 September 1995 WO
WO 95/25471 September 1995 WO
WO 95/26562 October 1995 WO
WO 95/29639 November 1995 WO
WO 96/04858 February 1996 WO
WO 96/19151 June 1996 WO
WO 96/19152 June 1996 WO
WO 96/20652 July 1996 WO
WO 96/21119 July 1996 WO
WO 96/22055 July 1996 WO
WO 96/23448 August 1996 WO
WO 96/24301 August 1996 WO
WO 96/27337 September 1996 WO
WO 96/31155 October 1996 WO
WO 96/35464 November 1996 WO
WO 96/39085 December 1996 WO
WO 96/39086 December 1996 WO
WO 96/39087 December 1996 WO
WO 96/39088 December 1996 WO
WO 96/39089 December 1996 WO
WO 97/00646 January 1997 WO
WO 97/00647 January 1997 WO
WO 97/06582 February 1997 WO
WO 97/10763 March 1997 WO
WO 97/10764 March 1997 WO
WO 97/11648 April 1997 WO
WO 97/11649 April 1997 WO
WO 97/15237 May 1997 WO
WO 97/24073 July 1997 WO
WO 97/24993 July 1997 WO
WO 97/30644 August 1997 WO
WO 97/34533 September 1997 WO
WO 97/37598 October 1997 WO
WO 97/39688 October 1997 WO
WO 98/17180 April 1998 WO
WO 98/27880 July 1998 WO
WO 98/30153 July 1998 WO
WO 98/47436 October 1998 WO
WO 99/03407 January 1999 WO
WO 99/03408 January 1999 WO
WO 99/03409 January 1999 WO
WO 99/12483 March 1999 WO
WO 99/12487 March 1999 WO
WO 99/12488 March 1999 WO
WO 99/15086 April 1999 WO
WO 99/15091 April 1999 WO
WO 99/23933 May 1999 WO
WO 99/23959 May 1999 WO
WO 99/25261 May 1999 WO
WO 99/29244 June 1999 WO
WO 99/34744 July 1999 WO
WO 99/45849 September 1999 WO
WO 99/48430 September 1999 WO
WO 99/51158 October 1999 WO
WO 00/24322 May 2000 WO
WO 00/24330 May 2000 WO
WO 00/41638 July 2000 WO
WO 00/48506 August 2000 WO
WO 00/53112 September 2000 WO
WO 00/54653 September 2000 WO
WO 00/57796 October 2000 WO
WO 00/64365 November 2000 WO
WO 00/72762 December 2000 WO
WO 00/72765 December 2000 WO
WO 01/03587 January 2001 WO
WO 01/05702 January 2001 WO
WO 01/10482 February 2001 WO
WO 01/35845 May 2001 WO
WO 01/54594 August 2001 WO
WO 01/58371 August 2001 WO
WO 01/62158 August 2001 WO
WO 01/62161 August 2001 WO
WO 01/62162 August 2001 WO
WO 01/62164 August 2001 WO
WO 01/62169 August 2001 WO
WO 01/78605 October 2001 WO
WO 01/91646 December 2001 WO
WO 02/07608 January 2002 WO
WO 02/07618 January 2002 WO
WO 02/17799 March 2002 WO
WO 02/19920 March 2002 WO
WO 02/19932 March 2002 WO
WO 02/30297 April 2002 WO
WO 02/32322 April 2002 WO
WO 02/36028 May 2002 WO
WO 02/43571 June 2002 WO
WO 02/058568 August 2002 WO
WO 02/060328 August 2002 WO
WO 02/067785 September 2002 WO
WO 02/098302 December 2002 WO
WO 03/000138 January 2003 WO
WO 03/001329 January 2003 WO
WO 03/013363 February 2003 WO
WO 03/015604 February 2003 WO
WO 03/020106 March 2003 WO
WO 03/020139 March 2003 WO
WO 03/024339 March 2003 WO
WO 03/079909 March 2003 WO
WO 03/030743 April 2003 WO
WO 03/037193 May 2003 WO
WO 03/047436 June 2003 WO
WO 03/055402 July 2003 WO
WO 03/057048 July 2003 WO
WO 03/057058 July 2003 WO
WO 03/063694 August 2003 WO
WO 03/077769 September 2003 WO
WO 03/079911 October 2003 WO
WO 03/082126 October 2003 WO
WO 03/088845 October 2003 WO
WO 03/090630 November 2003 WO
WO 03/094743 November 2003 WO
WO 03/094745 November 2003 WO
WO 03/094746 November 2003 WO
WO 03/094747 November 2003 WO
WO 03/101313 December 2003 WO
WO 03/105698 December 2003 WO
WO 03/105702 December 2003 WO
WO 2004/006980 January 2004 WO
WO 2004/011037 February 2004 WO
WO 2004/019769 March 2004 WO
WO 2004/021868 March 2004 WO
WO 2004/028585 April 2004 WO
WO 2004/032754 April 2004 WO
WO 2004/032760 April 2004 WO
WO 2004/032762 April 2004 WO
WO 2004/032763 April 2004 WO
WO 2004/034875 April 2004 WO
WO 2004/047626 June 2004 WO
WO 2004/047653 June 2004 WO
WO 2004/049956 June 2004 WO
WO 2004/052426 June 2004 WO
WO 2004/056276 July 2004 WO
WO 2004/056277 July 2004 WO
WO 2004/062516 July 2004 WO
WO 2004/078050 September 2004 WO
WO 2004/078051 September 2004 WO
WO 2004/086987 October 2004 WO
WO 2004/096015 November 2004 WO
WO 2004/096057 November 2004 WO
WO 2004/103157 December 2004 WO
WO 2004/105593 December 2004 WO
WO 2004/105621 December 2004 WO
WO 2004/112618 December 2004 WO
WO 2004/112652 December 2004 WO
WO 2005/027983 March 2005 WO
WO 2005/037329 April 2005 WO
WO 2005/044078 May 2005 WO
WO 2005/055846 June 2005 WO
WO 2005/072634 August 2005 WO
WO 2005/078892 August 2005 WO
WO 2005/079675 September 2005 WO
WO 2005/096954 October 2005 WO
WO 2005/112806 December 2005 WO
WO 2005/112808 December 2005 WO
WO 2005/115251 December 2005 WO
WO 2005/115253 December 2005 WO
WO 2005/117735 December 2005 WO
WO 2005/122936 December 2005 WO
WO 2006/027014 March 2006 WO
WO 2006/044490 April 2006 WO
WO 2006/044581 April 2006 WO
WO 2006/044810 April 2006 WO
WO 2006/051252 May 2006 WO
WO 2006/059067 June 2006 WO
WO 2006/083748 August 2006 WO
WO 2006/092563 September 2006 WO
WO 2006/092565 September 2006 WO
WO 2006/115958 November 2006 WO
WO 2006/125940 November 2006 WO
WO 2006/132992 December 2006 WO
WO 2007/002180 January 2007 WO
WO 2007/016290 February 2007 WO
WO 2007/018898 February 2007 WO
WO 2007/098220 August 2007 WO
WO 2007/121579 November 2007 WO
WO 2007/137304 November 2007 WO
WO 2007/139734 December 2007 WO
WO 2007/142625 December 2007 WO
WO 2007/147439 December 2007 WO
WO 2008/021969 February 2008 WO
WO 2008/039270 April 2008 WO
WO 2008/045383 April 2008 WO
WO 2008/089404 July 2008 WO
WO 2008/109125 September 2008 WO
WO 2010/063795 June 2010 WO
Other references
  • Disclosed Anonymously, “Motor-Driven Surgical Stapler Improvements,” Research Disclosure Database No. 526041, Published: Feb. 2008.
  • C.C. Thompson et al., “Peroral Endoscopic Reduction of Dilated Gastrojejunal Anastomosis After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: A Possible New Option for Patients with Weight Regain,” Surg Endosc (2006) vol. 20, pp. 1744-1748.
  • B.R. Coolman, DVM, MS et al., “Comparison of Skin Staples With Sutures for Anastomosis of the Small Intestine in Dogs,” Abstract; http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1053/jvet.2000.7539?cookieSet=1&journalCode=vsu which redirects to http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119040681/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0; [online] accessed: Sep. 22, 2008 (2 pages).
  • The Sodem Aseptic Battery Transfer Kit, Sodem Systems, 2000, 3 pages.
  • “Biomedical Coatings,” Fort Wayne Metals, Research Products Corporation, obtained online at www.fwmetals.com on Jun. 21, 2010 (1 page).
  • Van Meer et al., “A Disposable Plastic Compact Wrist for Smart Minimally Invasive Surgical Tools,” LAAS/CNRS (Aug. 2005).
  • Breedveld et al., “A New, Easily Miniaturized Sterrable Endoscope,” IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine (Nov./Dec. 2005).
  • D. Tuite, Ed., “Get the Lowdown on Ultracapacitors,” Nov. 15, 2007; [online] URL: http://electronicdesign.com/Articles/Print.cfm?ArticleID=17465, accessed Jan. 15, 2008 (5 pages).
  • Datasheet for Panasonic TK Relays Ultra Low Profile 2 A Polarized Relay, Copyright Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. (Known of at least as early as Aug. 17, 2010), 5 pages.
  • ASTM procedure D2240-00, “Standard Test Method for Rubber Property-Durometer Hardness,” (Published Aug. 2000).
  • ASTM procedure D2240-05, “Standard Test Method for Rubber Property-Durometer Hardness,” (Published Apr. 2010).
  • International Search Report for PCT/US2011/045555, dated Nov. 29, 2011 (3 pages).
Patent History
Patent number: 8789740
Type: Grant
Filed: Jul 30, 2010
Date of Patent: Jul 29, 2014
Patent Publication Number: 20120024936
Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Cincinnati, OH)
Inventors: Chester O. Baxter, III (Loveland, OH), Mark Tsonton (Loveland, OH)
Primary Examiner: Thanh Truong
Assistant Examiner: Nathaniel Chukwurah
Application Number: 12/846,986
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: With Cutting Means (227/180.1); With Means To Assemble Plural Pieces Of Work (227/19); Tubular Driving Path (227/179.1)
International Classification: A61B 17/068 (20060101);